Chapter 35 - Johnny - Pancakes and Pee
I’m so glad my pancakes ploy worked. I was wracking my brain looking for some way to spend more time with Becca tonight, and luckily, she found pancakes interesting enough to put off going to bed.
I can understand why she’s exhausted. She’s been going pretty much non stop since early yesterday morning. I can’t see spending time at the spa with Ryder as being too relaxing. He’s so off the wall that it can be tiring to spend time with him.
It would have been hilarious to hear him getting waxed, though.
“Back,” Becca says, getting into my car. She insisted on stopping at her place first to change into more comfortable clothes. “Take me to the pancakes.”
“You got it,” I say with a laugh.
She’s wearing the same baggy joggers she wore that day in the tattoo shop and even though we’ve done plenty more since, my dick still enjoys the memory of that first encounter. I reach down and adjust myself discreetly. Becca notices anyway and raises an eyebrow at me.
“Really? This does it for you?” She grabs some of the excess material from her legs and pulls it upward, reaching at least a foot above where her thigh stops. “You, me, and Hunter could fit in her together,” she says with a wink.
“Not funny,” I say, the jealousy I was feeling earlier burning another hole in my chest. Hunter is a good-looking guy who owns his own business. Of course I’m jealous. Not to mention he operates in much the same way as Becca, with her one night rule. He loves women. Lots of them.
“You have nothing to worry about, Johnny. That’s a rule that I’m not going to break. It’s just you and me until this fake relationship has served its purpose.No relationships with other people while we’re dating.” She turns to look out the window and starts humming along to the radio.
I exhale a relieved breath. I don’t want anything to interfere with this fake relationship until we’ve seen it through. I need all the time I can get if Becca is going to see that I’m worth taking a chance on.
The parking lot of Maggie’s is nearly empty when we pull in. I pull into a spot close to the door and shut the car off. I reach out and grab Becca’s hand before she opens her door.
“I’m sorry, Becca. I shouldn’t have acted like a jealous ass. Hunter just gets to me sometimes.”
“Thanks,” she says, patting her other hand on top of mine. “It’s okay. You looked kind of adorable, all jealous like that at the wedding. I’ve never had anyone want me all to themselves before. I can see how a woman could get used to that.”
She opens her door and gets out before me, leaving me scrambling to catch up. None of our friends are around, but I weave our fingers together anyway, and we walk into Maggie’s holding hands. Becca leads us to a booth about halfway down the train car, and slides into the seat facing the back, leaving me the seat facing the door.
“Evening folks, get you something to drink to start off with?”
“Ivy!” Becca squeals. “You must work every shift here, hey?”
“Oh, hi,” Ivy says, a grin splitting her face. “Yeah, they want us available for all shifts, and that’s what they schedule us for. Keeps us from getting second jobs so we can actually afford our rent.” Her smiles drops. “Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Coffee? Iced Tea?”
Becca barks out a laugh and I chuckle.
“Don’t worry about it. Believe me, I know what it’s like to struggle to make rent. I’m a freelance photographer. Some months are leaner than others. It sucks that you need to be available all the time, though. Have you thought about working in a bar instead? It’s all evening hours and the tips are great.”
“Been there, not going back. I’m trying to get out of that scene. Working in it makes it that much harder. It’s hard to get into too much trouble serving coffee and milkshakes, you know?”
“Ha! You have a point.”
“So, what can I get you?”
As much as Ivy seems to be enjoying the conversation, it’s clear that she has work she needs to do.
“I would love you forever if you could bring me the tallest stack of pancakes you have, and a glass of chocolate milk. Please.”
“I’ll have the exact same,” I say. “But can I also get a side of bacon, please?”
“Coming right up.”
Ivy turns to leave, and Becca looks back at me.
“So, when should we have you meet my mom?”
Shit, I was hoping to have more time before she started asking about this. I should have guessed she’d want to get it over with soon, though. She doesn’t do relationships, after all. One night only.
